With just a week of pre-season left for English clubs, the transfer market could go into a frenzy this week. Arsenal on their part have already signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and want to wrap up their next signing, Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.
The Spanish Euro 2024 cult hero is on the verge of joining Mikel Arteta’s side this summer. With a contract that expires next summer, Merino had made the decision not to renew with Sociedad and instead make a step up in his career.
Gunners set to reap rewards of Monreal deal
Barcelona were extremely interested in signing Merino but prioritized the signings of Nico Williams and Dani Olmo, which gave Arsenal a window to swoop in. Interestingly, the Gunners might have also capitalized on a long-term favour that Real Sociedad owed them, according to Angel Lopez of Mundo Deportivo.
Back when the Gunners let Nacho Monreal leave for the Spanish side on a transfer without any fee, they negotiated the chance of having a ‘preferential option’ on a number of their players. It might have been five years since but it’s never too late to dip into a ‘You Owe Me’ repository.
Real Sociedad & Arsenal could arrange a deal where the Spanish club pay no fee for Monreal but #AFC, in exchange, would have a ‘preferential option’ over a number of players of their choice [Angel Lopez -MD]
— Arsènic™ (@MrArsenicTM) August 26, 2019
The domino effect
Back when Arsenal let Monreal leave, little would they have imagined that such an operation would give them an advantage in signing someone like Merino. The 28-year-old is the perfect midfield profile Arteta needs to bridge the gap between Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
Merino is an excellent duelist, both in the air and on the ground. He has a high percentage of duels won throughout his time in La Liga. He is also an excellent box-to-box midfielder and is often seen crashing into the opposition penalty box at the right moment to get on the end of a cross with his feet or his head.
Being Spanish, the 28-year-old is technically proficient on the ball and can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. All factors considered, this is an excellent coup for Arsenal. If they had paid 50m euros for it, it still would have been a sensible signing but the Gunners have taken advantage of his contract situation.
The only thing Arsenal will be hoping for is that they get Merino into the squad as soon as possible ahead of the new season. It could be as soon as the next week. Only time will tell how long it takes before we the Spaniard in a Gunners shirt, maybe wearing the #10 than Emile Smith Rowe has left behind this summer.
